Apparatus and method for repelling sharks and the like

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for electromagnetically repelling elasmobranchii, such as sharks and the like, wherein an electric circuit, including a timing circuit, a plurality of spaced electrodes and a source of electrical energy, is connected in a housing and is energized upon submergence of said electrodes in a body of water, said electric circuit including means for rapidly pulsing a direct current between said electrodes to generate an electromagnetic field in the body of water to repel said sharks and the like.

1 c anv eci lrve v 1 g- United 1 X S7 7 (Q [111 3,822,403 Coleman et y 1J 1 '2, 1974 i v ',,j. ;,a. 1 APPARATUSEAND METHOD FOR 3,164,172 H1965Hicks 325/118 3,354.395 1l/1967 Merck et a1. 325/116 REPELLING SHARKSAND THE LIKE 3,559,161 l/l97l Raudsep 340/5 X Inventors: Robert n;Robert 3,683.280 8/1972 11011 325/118 x Hicks, 1 Asturia Ave., both of VCoral Gables 33134 Primary Examiner-Benedict V. Safourek [73] Assignee:said Hicks, by said C l Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shoemaker & Mattare[221 F1lcd: Sept. 27, 19.71 [57] ABSTRACT [2]] Appl' 184ll5 Apparatusand method forelectromagnetically repelling elasmobranchii', such as sllggks and the like, [52] U5. C1 325/28, 119/3, 325/ e e n an t c t,including a m gci cu t, [51] Int. Cl A01k 61/00 a p r y of spacedelectrodes and a source of elec- [58] Field of Search 61/70;32s/1;'307/10; trical energy, is connected in ahousing and is ener-331/55, 173; 325/1 16, 118; 219/67; 119/3; gized upon submergence ofsaid electrodes in a' body I 325/156 180;. 340/4 R, 4 A, 4 C of water,said electric circuit including means for rapv idly pulsing a directcurrent between said electrodes to [5 6] Reference Cit d generate anelectromagnetic field in the, body'of water i t0 repel said sharks andthe 1,863.518 6/1932 Young 325/180 x i 9 Claims, 7 Drawing FiguresPATENTEDJuL 2 m4 sum 1 m 2 INVENTOR5 ROBERT E. COLEMAN 8 ROBERT F. HICKSATTORNEYS Byaggww M SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 7.

FIG 6 55.? 5 5 2;: *5

INVENTORS ROBERT E. COLEMAN 8K ROBERT F. HICKS M W/M/J Mm ATTORNEYSAPPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REPELLING SHARKS ANDTHE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION has proven to be entirely satisfactoryor reliable inoperation. Such prior art devices have included various chemicals, orvarious devices for creating an electric field in a body of water, oreven various colors applied to liferafts and vests and the like, whichcolors have been found to be less attractive to sharks and the like thanother colors commonly used on rescue equipment used by persons in bodiesof water. One prior art'device for creating an electric field in a bodyof water to repel sharks or the like generates electromagnetic waves inthe body of water through the use of a dipole'antenna connected in acircuit selectively energized by a manually operated switch; andaccordingly, the devicewill not operate unless the person using thedevice is conscious or remembers to turn it on. Moreover, the antennaused to generatethe electromagnetic waves may obstruct normal movementof the person wearingthe device,'an d it does'not surround the personwith an electromagnetic field, but leavesnullzones through which a'shark or the like might approach the person.

In the present invention, the circuit is automatically energized when itis submerged in abody of water and accordingly does not rely'upon theperson using the device to turn it on. Moreover, alternatingelectromag-, netic fields are created by a plurality of electrodesconnected in a timing circuit, and accordingly the null zone associatedwith each electromagnetic field is covered by the otherelectromagneticfield.

According to one aspect of the invention, three electrodes are arrangedin a, triangular pattern in such a manner'as to create twoelectromagnetic fields substantially perpendicular to'one another andalternately energized such as to cover or eliminate the null zonescommonly associated with an electric field to thereby preclude anypossibility ofashark or the like approachand the like wherein aplurality of electrodes-are connected in an electrical circuit which isautomatically energized upon the electrodes being submerged in a body ofwater.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means and method forelectromagnetically repelling sharks and the like wherein threeelectrodes are connected in a circuit and are arranged in a triangularpattern such'as to create two electromagnetic fields disposedsubstantially perpendicularly to one another in a manner to effectivelyeliminate the null zone associated with each electric field.

BRIEF, DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring diagramof the first form of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the electric fields ,produced'with theembodiment of the invention shown in-FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 5 is a view in section of a second form-of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematicwiring diagram of the form of theinvention shown inFIG. 5.

ing theperson using the device through an area which does not containany electromagnetic radiation.

' The device according to the present invention does not present anydanger or disc omfort to the person using the device since it does notrely upon voltage to repel the sharks or the like but rather generateselectromagnetic radiation which stimulates the nervous system of sharksor the like to repel them in a manner more fully explained in US. Pat.No. 3,164,772.

The device of the present invention may be'wom upon the bod of a personor attached to a boat or other object or it may be used in a fixedinstallation, if desired.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide ameans and method for electromagnetically repelling elasmobranchii suchas sharks and the like without disturbing other aquatic life.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means and method forelectromagnetically repelling sharks FIG. 7 isa diagrammatic view. ofthe electric field produced with the'embodiment of the in FIGS. Sand 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring nowto thedrawings,wherein like refer-- A ence numerals refer to like'parts throughout theseveral views, a swimmer l isshown in FIG/1 with a repeller device 2according to the present invention'suitably afixed thereto as by a strap3 or the like connected with the repeller and disposed around the bodyof the person 1. A shark 4 is shown turning away from the swim-' mer dueto the electromagnetic field set up around the swimmer by the repeller2.

Referring now to FIG. -2, the repeller device 2 is shown in' itspreferred form and includes a tubular housing comprised of a firstelongate portion 5 and a second elongate portion 6 extending at rightangles from the mid-portion of the portion 5. The housing may beconstructed of any suitable material and is preferably constructed ofpolyvinyl chloride pipe having a diameter of approximately three-fourthsof an inch. The

portion 5 would have a length, for example, on theorder of 14 inches. Apair of brass electrodes 7 and 8 are threaded into the opposite ends ofportion 5, and a third brass electrode 9 is threaded into the free endof portion 6. The electrodes 7, 8 and 9 may be formed of other suitablematerials capable of withstanding the corrosive environment of saltwaterand may be affixed to the housing by other suitable means rather thanthe threaded connection shown.

. Referring now to FIG. 3, the wiring diagram or circuit of the-repellershown in' FIG. 2 is schematically illustrated. The circuit includes asource of energy such -as a battery B, preferably of the type used inportable radios or the like, and having a voltage on the order of to 200volts and preferably about volts. A re sistor R is connected in serieswith the battery B and allows the battery to charge a power capacitor Cand invention-shown at the same time protects the battery from beingshorted by the water or by a power transistor T connected in the circuitto send a pulse of direct current between a first pair of electrodes Eand E A second power transistor T2 is connected in the circuit to send apulse of direct current between a third electrode E and the firstelectrode E The power transistors T, and T are connected in circuit witha multivibrator circuit MV which alternately triggers the transistors Tand T to alternately energize the pairs of electrodes E E and E E toalternately create 'two electromagnetic fields F, and F as seen in fulllines and phantom lines, respectively, in FIG. 4, with theelectromagnetic fields F and F disposed substantially at a right angleto one another. Each pair of electrodes E E and E E is energizedapproximately 35 times per minute to give a total of about 70 pulses ofcurrent per minute. The multivibrator circuit MV is conventional andwill not be described in further detail.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 4, the nature of theelectromagneticfields F, and F created by the pairs of electrodes E Eand E E is more clearly seen. Each field comprises lobes L and L2,respectively, generated in a direction perpendicular to a line drawnbetween the electrodes in each pair of electrodes. Electrode E, iscommon toboth fields, and electrodes E and E;, are alternately energizedto alternately establish the fields IF, and F with the fields F and Fdisposed substantially'at a right angle to one another and accordingly,the lobes of each field extend across and cover the null zone NZ of theother field, In this manner,'electromagnetic radiation is'generated inall directions from a repeller and there is no area surrounding theswimmer which is not electromagnetically charged, thus eliminating thepossibility of a shark or the like swimming up to the person through anarea which is free of electromagnetic radiation. The circuit isautomatically energized upon being submerged in water, with the waterbetween the electrodes E E and E E serving as a switch means forautomatically turning the repeller on when it is submerged.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6'and 7, a second form of the invention isillustrated and comprises a tubular housing 10 preferably made of apolyvinyl chloride material or the like and having a pair of electrodes11 and 12 suitably connected at the opposite ends thereof. Theelectrodes 11 and 12 may comprise, for example, brass plugs threadedinto the ends of the tube 10 and connected in circuit with a pluralityof batteries B and a circuit board CB. According to one example, thetube I 10 is approximately three-fourths of an inch in diameter and isapproximately 36 inches long.

Referring to FIG. 6, the circuit or wiring diagram of the repeller shownin FIG. 5 is schematically illustrated and comprises'a battery Bconnected in circuit with a resistor R, and power capacitor C Theresistor R, enables the battery B to charge the capacitor C, butprotects the battery from being shorted by the water or. by a powertransistor T connected in circuit with the battery. The power transistorT is connected to an electrode E, to send a pulse of direct currentbetween electrodes E, and E A resistor R is connected in circuit withthe power'transistor T for dropping the battery voltage fromapproximately 135 volts to about 20 volts to operate a unijunctiontransistor T connected in a timing circuit or multivibrator circuit forperiodically firing the transistor T The electromagnetic field Fproduced between the electrodes E and E is diagrammatically illustratedin FIG. 7 and comprises a plurality .of lobes L generated in a directionperpendicular to a line drawn between the electrodes E, and E A nullzone NZ is created at the ends of the'electromagnetic field in whichthere is little or no electromagnetic radiation.

In use, the repeller 2 is attached to the back of a swimmer as seen inFIG. 1' or it may be attached to a life raft or boat or other object ina body of water, or it may be used in a fixed installation such as anelectric field created at a fence surrounding a beach area forpreventing elasmobranchii, such as rays or sharks or the like, from.entering the area of the beach occupied by bathers.

The repeller, according to both forms of the invention, is energizedautomatically upon being submerged in a body of water, and the pulsedtransistors are such as to only partially discharge the power capacitorso as to conserve energy and thereby add tremendously to battery life,and ,yet the performance of a repeller is not reduced. The circuit ineach of the two forms of the invention could use some means other than atransistor to cause the capacitor to be discharged, such as asilicon-controlled-rectifier orsemi-conductor or solidstate device.

In summation, a preferred form of the invention utilizes two.electromagnetic fields alternately energized ,and comprises amultivibrator' circuit which alternately pulses on two powertransistors. The circuit is automatically energized upon being submergedin water, and each power transistor is pulsed on approximately 35 timesper minute thereby producing pulses per minute in the water. Therepeller could be used in a fixed In both modifications, the repeller isautomatically energized upon submergence in a body of water and thuseliminates the necessity of a waterproof switch or the like andprecludes the possibility of the person forgetting to turn the repellereither on or off.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and all changes that fall within themetes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well asconjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to beembraced by those claims. r a

We claim;

1. A repeller for repelling elasmobranchii with electrical energy,comprising at least three spaced apart electrodes connected in a circuitand submerged in a body of water, said water completing said circuit,

means connected in said circuit for periodically discharging a pulse oficurrent through alternate pairs of said electrodes to alternatelyestablish at least two electrical energy 'fields in a body of water whensaid electrodes are submerged in said body of water, said meansincluding a battery .for supplyingenergy to said circuit,

said circuit and electrodes supported on a T-shaped housing, saidelectrodes secured in exposed position on the free endsof the housingand positioned relative to one another so that said electrical energyfields are alternately established along lines disposed at an angle toone another so that each electrical energy field covers the null zoneassociated with the other electrical energy field to create anelectrical energy field surrounding said repeller and thus leaving noarea free of electrical energy through which elasmobranchii are enabledto approach said repeller.

2. A repeller as in claim 1, wherein there are three electrodes in saidcircuit, a transistor connected in the circuit between each of two ofthe electrodes, and a capacitor, and a timing circuit connected withboth of the transistors to alternately periodically discharge thecapacitor through the transistors andthus the two electrodes connectedwith the transistors to alternately create two electric fields betweenone of the electrodes and first one and then the other of the remainingtwo electrodes.

3. A repeller as in claim 2, wherein the electrodes are arranged in atriangular pattern so that the electric 6 fields created by theelectrodes are disposed at substantially a right angle to one another toeliminate the null zone associated with each of the. electric fields.

4. A repeller as in claim 3, wherein the timing circuit comprises amultivibrator circuit connected between the two transistors.

5. A repeller as in claim 4, wherein said electrodes I comprise brassplugs.

6. A device as in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes a capacitor, asource of energy connected with;

said capacitor, triggering means connected with saidcapacitor, andtiming means connected with said triggering means to alternatelyperiodically cause said ca- I pacitor to discharge a pulse of currentacross said pairs of electrodes.

, a 7. A device as in claim6, wherein said timing means comprises amultivibrator circuit.

8. A-device as in .claim 7, wherein said triggering.

said housing.

1. A repeller for repelling elasmobranchii with electrical energy,comprising at least three spaced apart electrodes connected in a circuitand submerged in a body of water, said water completing said circuit,means connected in said circuit for periodically discharging a pulse offcurrent through alternate pairs of said electrodes to alternatelyestablish at least two electrical energy fields in a body of water whensaid electrodes are submerged in said body of water, said meansincluding a battery for supplying energy to said circuit, said circuitand electrodes supported on a T-shaped housing, said electrodes securedin exposed position on the free ends of the housing and positionedrelative to one another so that said electrical energy fields arealternately established along lines disposed at an angle to one anotherso that each electrical energy field covers the null zone associatedwith the other electrical energy field to create an electrical energyfield surrounding said repeller and thus leaving no area free ofelectrical energy through which elasmobranchii are enabled to approachsaid repeller.
 2. A repeller as in claim 1, wherein there are threeelectrodes in said circuit, a transistor connected in the circuitbetween each of two of the electrodes, and a capacitor, and a timingcircuit connected with both of the transistors to alternatelyperiodically discharge the capacitOr through the transistors and thusthe two electrodes connected with the transistors to alternately createtwo electric fields between one of the electrodes and first one and thenthe other of the remaining two electrodes.
 3. A repeller as in claim 2,wherein the electrodes are arranged in a triangular pattern so that theelectric fields created by the electrodes are disposed at substantiallya right angle to one another to eliminate the null zone associated witheach of the electric fields.
 4. A repeller as in claim 3, wherein thetiming circuit comprises a multivibrator circuit connected between thetwo transistors.
 5. A repeller as in claim 4, wherein said electrodescomprise brass plugs.
 6. A device as in claim 1, wherein said circuitincludes a capacitor, a source of energy connected with said capacitor,triggering means connected with said capacitor, and timing meansconnected with said triggering means to alternately periodically causesaid capacitor to discharge a pulse of current across said pairs ofelectrodes.
 7. A device as in claim 6, wherein said timing meanscomprises a multivibrator circuit.
 8. A device as in claim 7, whereinsaid triggering means includes transistors.
 9. A device as in claim 8,wherein said circuit is enclosed within said housing, said electrodesbeing mounted on said housing and exposed to the outside of saidhousing.